Office Pantry 101: The Complete Guide

What is a pantry in an office?

An office pantry is where snacks, sips, and sanity collide. Let's define it real quick: 

Office pantry: A designated area in the workplace that provides employees with access to snacks, coffee, beverages, supplies, and sometimes grab-and-go meals, to keep them fueled throughout the workday. 

It’s typically located in the office kitchen but can also be set up in a separate, more private room designed for casual mingling and midday recharges.

Sure, a pantry could be a sad table of haphazard, generic snacks—but the real ones know better. A great pantry is tailored to your team’s tastes, offering a variety of options that fit their day-to-day needs. A thoughtfully stocked pantry sets the stage for optimal productivity, whether it’s a quick protein bar to crush an afternoon slump or a cold brew on tap for that mid-morning brainstorm. 

What does that look like? You know we're about to dive into the specifics, but first, let's talk about benefits!

What are the benefits of an office pantry?

Offering an office pantry isn’t just a nice perk—it’s a game changer. Here’s why:

• Cost-Effective: Forget about building out a fancy cafeteria. Shelf-stable snacks and drinks are a budget-friendly way to keep employees fueled without breaking the bank.
• Drives Office Traffic: Free food? Always a win. In fact, 86% of employees say it’s one of the reasons they head into the office. [ezCater]
• Added Compensation: Snacks might seem small, but they pack a punch. With employees spending 5-20% of their food budgets on snacks, you're saving them $800+ annually. [Neilson IQ]
• Encourages In-Person Interaction: Snack chats aren’t just a way to break the ice—they build bonds. In-person interactions boost brain activity and employee happiness, making for a more connected workplace. [Psychology Today]
• Boosts Engagement & Output: Happy employees are 32% more likely to stick around. Plus, engaged workplaces see 23% higher profits. [Gallup]

How to stock an office pantry?

Stocking an office pantry isn’t just about filling shelves with food—it's about crafting an experience that energizes and supports employees all day long. A well-stocked pantry is a mix of convenience, variety, and quality. Here’s how we break it down:

Equipment: The backbone of any pantry.
Before you even think about the snacks, you need to think about what’s going to support your pantry’s flow. Equipment is key here, helping keep everything organized, accessible, and running smoothly. Whether it’s your office coffee machine to jumpstart the morning or a fridge to keep everything fresh, this is where you make the pantry experience functional and efficient. 

• Office Coffee Machines
• Water and Ice Dispensers
• Kegerators 
• Refrigerators
• Shelves 

Breakfast: Start the day strong.
A great day starts with a great breakfast. But breakfast in the office isn’t just about cereal or a fancy toast—it’s about providing enough options to fuel your team through those crucial first hours of work  By stocking a variety of easy-to-grab, hearty, and energizing breakfast options, you help employees hit the ground running without wasting time in the morning rush. 

• Coffee
• Milk 
• Sweeteners
• Creamers 
• Juice
• Bread
• Breakfast Foods
• Protein Drinks
• Bars

Lunch Add-Ons: Keep midday munchies at bay.
Lunch is when employees really need that midday recharge. It’s not just about satisfying hunger—it’s about giving your team the chance to step away from their desks, refuel, and return to work refreshed. While a full lunch may not always be feasible, you can go the extra mile by offering grab-and-go meal options or healthy snacks to supplement their midday meals. Think of it as the perfect way to encourage a break, while also giving them ingredient-rich options that power the rest of their day. 

• Frozen Foods
• Deli Products
• Canned Products
• Dry Snacks
• Produce
• Sodas
• Water Varieties
• Condiments

Afternoon Snack: Pick-me-ups for the mid-afternoon slump.
By mid-afternoon, everyone’s energy is running low, and that’s when a good snack can make all the difference. Whether it's a sweet treat or a protein-packed snack, having the right variety on hand can boost morale and productivity. According to ezCater, 76% of employees enjoy at least one treat per week, making this an essential part of any well-stocked pantry. 

• Sweets/Candy
• Nuts/Trail Mix 
• Jerky
• Energy Drinks
• Kombucha 
• Tea/Cocoa

Supplies: Don’t forget the essentials.
Supplies may seem like the unglamorous part of pantry stocking, but they play a huge role in creating a seamless and thoughtful experience. They're a great opportunity to highlight your company’s values such as sustainability. Over 50% of our dining supplies across Crafty-powered pantries are compostable. 

• Plates
• Utensils
• Cups
• Straws
• Napkins
• Serveware 
• Cleaning Products

How to maintain an office pantry? 

Running an office pantry is no small feat. As any workplace team knows, everyone’s got their opinions, and everyone wants what they want, when they want it. That’s no problem when it’s just you, but things get tricky when you’re managing a pantry at the office level. You’re juggling preferences, restocks, and, let’s be honest, the never-ending paperwork that comes with it. So, why not call in some reinforcements? What would happen if you just called Crafty up? 

When it comes down to it, you've got three solid options to maintain your office pantry: 

• Do It Yourself: This one sounds simple in theory, but trust us, it’s a lot more time-consuming than it seems. You’re the one buying products in bulk, setting them out, restocking, cleaning, and handling all the financial tracking. Plus, let’s not forget about that end-of-year reconciliation. Spoiler alert: it’s a nightmare. This option gives you control, but it can be tough to scale, especially across multiple offices.
• Delegate For Support: If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed (and who wouldn't?), this is where we come in. At Crafty, we call this our Delivery+ service. We order, deliver, and stock your pantry, and even handle light equipment upkeep and program management to ensure everything runs like a well-oiled machine. We’re there anywhere from one to five times a week, but unlike the fully outsourced option, you’ll still manage some of the day-to-day duties when we’re not onsite. It’s a win-win, with us doing the heavy lifting and your team filling in the gaps.
• Completely Outsource: No time to manage the pantry at all? No problem! If you’re ready to hand it all off, Crafty’s Concierge service is the full-package deal. This means you get a dedicated person onsite to keep your pantry stocked, your equipment in top shape, and everything running seamlessly throughout the day. From inventory management to product selection and budget oversight, we’ve got it covered. You won’t have to lift a finger.

How do you organize an office pantry?  

We’ve got a whole blog dedicated to office pantry organization tips, but here’s a quick peek at what makes a pantry truly stand out. Organization is key—and not just in the “shove it all in a closet and close the door” kind of way. It’s about creating an environment where snacks, drinks, and supplies can be seen. Yes, literally seen but also seen. 

Here are our top four pantry organization tips: 

• Location is Everything: Your pantry should be a hotspot, but not the bottleneck of the office. Find a space that’s easy to access but just far enough from the main traffic flow to avoid snack-time traffic jams. You want it to be a destination, not a distraction.
• Containers That Do the Work: Clear and wire baskets are the unsung heroes of a well-stocked pantry. They keep snacks visible and easy to grab because let’s face it—no one has time to dig through a pile of crumpled chip bags when they’re hangry. 
• Shelf Smarts: Channel your inner Marie Kondo here. Position the snacks you want your team to grab (whether that’s crowd favorites or more cost-effective options) at eye level. And for those pricier treats? Keep them out of sight, but still within reach. You want people to think twice before grabbing that artisanal chocolate bar, not because it’s not available, but because it’s not the first thing they see.
• Keep It Fresh: Cleanliness is non-negotiable. Have trash cans near every station, and keep cleaning supplies handy for those inevitable spills and wrappers. A messy pantry is a disorganized pantry, and a disorganized pantry is a quick pitstop on the way to a complete breakdown of your experience and potentially your budget. 

Check out the full blog >

What are the top office pantry products?

Looking to keep your pantry stocked with the best of the best? Here’s a curated list of pantry staples that will keep your team energized and fueled throughout the day. And when you’ve got data on your side, it’s easy to pinpoint what works and what doesn’t. Although we promised we’d stop shamelessly plugging ourselves (OK, we didn’t promise that—it’s just too hard), we always have data here at Crafty. The Crafty Platform monitors consumption across our clients, making it super simple to pull the top products in each category.

• Bars: KIND, Dark Chocolate Nuts, and Sea Salt
• Bread: Dave's Killer Bread, 21 Whole Grains and Seeds
• Breakfast: Kellogg's, Wellness Cereal Cup Assortment Pack
• Canned & Packaged: Nongshim, Instant Shin Cup Noodles, Gourmet Spicy
• Chips: Frito-Lay, Classic Mix Variety Pack
• Coffee Beans: Counter Culture, Hologram
• Coffee Cold Brew: Rise Brewing Co., Nitro Cold Brew, Original Black
• Coffee Pods: Nespresso, Espresso Forte
• Coffee Sweeteners: Organic Valley, Half and Half
• Condiments: Justin's, Classic Peanut Butter
• Cookies: Rip van Wafels, Dutch Caramel & Vanilla
• Deli: Wilcox Farms, Hard Boiled Cage Free Eggs
• Dried Fruit, Nuts, Trail Mix: Fruit for Thought, Organic Dried Mango
• Energy Drinks: Red Bull Sugarfree
• Flavored & Infused Water: Hint, Watermelon
• Frozen: Gordon Choice, Burst O’ Berries
• Jerky: Think Jerky, Classic Beef Jerky
• Juices: Vita Coco, Coconut Water
• Milk & Alternatives: Oatly, Oat Milk, Original
• Popcorn & Pretzels: SkinnyPop, Original
• Produce: Bananas
• Soda: Diet Coke
• Sports & Protein Drinks: fairlife, Core Power Protein Shake, Chocolate
• Spreads: Wholly Guacamole, Classic Guacamole Mini Cups
• Still & Sparkling Water: San Pellegrino, Sparkling Natural Mineral Water
• Supplies: Fabri-Kal, Greenware 16 oz. Compostable Clear Cold Cup
• Tea: ITO EN, Oi Ocha Unsweetened Green Tea
• Yogurt & Cheese: Chobani, Non-Fat Plain

How to improve your office pantry?

Improving your office pantry isn’t just about stocking more snacks—it’s about being strategic, budget-conscious, and data-driven. When you align your pantry strategy with the needs and behaviors of your team, you’ll see a more efficient, enjoyable experience for everyone. Here’s how you can take your office pantry to the next level:

• Budget Smart: Start by thinking about the cost per person per day. Visualize a day in the pantry for your average employee and build your budget around that. Think about what they’re grabbing for breakfast, mid-morning, lunch, and afternoon. Tailor your spending to fit those habits while still leaving room for variety. 
• Know Your Data: Without insight into what’s being ordered, consumed, and how much is left on the shelves, you’re just guessing. Tracking consumption and cost allows you to refine your pantry to perfection. When you’ve got the data, you can do more with less, making smarter decisions for your budget while still keeping the pantry stocked and your employees happy.
• Use Merchandising to Your Advantage: Sometimes, it’s not just about what you have, but how it’s presented. People consume with their eyes, and the right merchandising makes all the difference. Put your pantry products in prime spots to boost consumption—whether it’s grabbing that high-energy snack first thing in the morning or strategically placing healthier options for lunchtime choices. It’s all about setting the right experience without going overboard on spending.

Conclusion

A well-stocked office pantry is more than just a perk—it’s a strategic move to boost productivity, engagement, and morale. It’s not about gourmet meals or extravagant setups, but about offering your team thoughtful, accessible options that fuel them throughout the day. From breakfast to snacks to coffee, the right pantry can transform your workspace into a place of connection and energy. Add the right tools and office pantry vendor, and keeping it running smoothly is easier than ever. 

Plus, if an apocalypse does ever hit, at least you'll have snacks to survive!